Negatives to Note 4

Let me hear the negatives before I pull the trigger and get one. Been debating about sticking with iOS, which I'm bored with again, getting a Nexus 6 or a Moto X. I thought the S pen looked very cool when I saw it today. Is it a gimmick? Are people really using it?

Nexus 6 looks good, but no one handed mode and no S pen.

Moto X has a crappy camera, only 32gig memory and Moto's own voice system acting as a go between Google Now, which slows it down.

I'm still concerned about about leaving iOS and an integrated MMS/Direct Message app. I think imessage is really good for what it does and I don't see Android really having an equivalent yet.

I just moved from Windows phone, which I love, to the Note 4 just for the S pen. I work in Sales. I need to be able to take notes. I used to have several notepads lying around with notes from meetings. No rhyme or reason to the notepads. Now, between the MS Surface 3 and the Note 4, I am totally paperless. With the Surface 3, I can take notes in meetings using the stylus. With the Note 4, I can take notes at lunch meetings where the Surface is to large to take out. And, since Android has OneNote, all my notes sync between phone, Surface 3, and home Windows computer. Nirvana!!

Let me hear the negatives before I pull the trigger and get one. Been debating about sticking with iOS, which I'm bored with again, getting a Nexus 6 or a Moto X. I thought the S pen looked very cool when I saw it today. Is it a gimmick? Are people really using it?

Nexus 6 looks good, but no one handed mode and no S pen.

Moto X has a crappy camera, only 32gig memory and Moto's own voice system acting as a go between Google Now, which slows it down.

I'm still concerned about about leaving iOS and an integrated MMS/Direct Message app. I think imessage is really good for what it does and I don't see Android really having an equivalent yet.

I absolutely Love this "phone". It is amazing. I use the spen all the time. Action memos, screen write, papyrus, smart select and on and on. I use it exclusively to copy text and paste as well. I use to hate using my finger for that. Cool as crap. It has a ton of purpose for me.
As far as the imessage goes I have never used an iphone but Textra is an amazing texting app that has some of the same features as imessage. Like I said, I never used iPhone...just the way I understand it.
I just couldn't be happier...a lot of that happiness is because of the folks in here. They are So full of android knowledge and continuously give great advice on everything from launchers to texting, complete customization and help for a Note 4
I wouldn't worry too much about one handed mode...I just do everything in portrait. That's really the #1 thing I like about the phone...don't have to put it landscape to get the keyboard big enough to use anymore... and that's great.
Whatever you decide, good luck!

Let me hear the negatives before I pull the trigger and get one. Been debating about sticking with iOS, which I'm bored with again, getting a Nexus 6 or a Moto X. I thought the S pen looked very cool when I saw it today. Is it a gimmick? Are people really using it?

Nexus 6 looks good, but no one handed mode and no S pen.

Moto X has a crappy camera, only 32gig memory and Moto's own voice system acting as a go between Google Now, which slows it down.

I'm still concerned about about leaving iOS and an integrated MMS/Direct Message app. I think imessage is really good for what it does and I don't see Android really having an equivalent yet.

If you read the numerous threads within this forum you will discover the pros and cons of the Note 4.

However, the best thing to do is to buy one and use it extensively within the return period. If you like it, keep it, and if you don't then return it and stay with IOS.

I'm still concerned about about leaving iOS and an integrated MMS/Direct Message app. I think imessage is really good for what it does and I don't see Android really having an equivalent yet.

and it never will, unless Google and all the android phone makers want to go to war with Apple (which isn't going to happen).

The industry is (and always has been) SMS/MMS. iMessage is something Apple invented to be incompatible with the industry (that was one of Steve Jobs' favorite pastimes), and it's not going to be seen on non-Apple phones.

As for the S-Pen, I use mine all the time (I have one in the phone and a spare on my desk so I don't have to keep pulling it out and putting it back). My wife, who suffered a minor stroke about a year ago, couldn't do half the things she does on her phone without it. The screen size and the S-Pen (and the replaceable battery) are the reasons I bought a Note.

The answer to iMessage is what's ap. It doesn't count against your text messages, if you're still not unlimited, and it is available on both IOS and Android. I use it a lot and it allows you to send larger pics than standard messages do.
As far as the Note 4 goes, I trade phones up all the time, as in,9 in about 8 months. The Note 4 is no joke, and I think I have found a keeper. The camera is awesome, removable battery, expandable storage, 32gb internal to start with, excellent reception (thank you for fixing this Samsung) ,awesome battery life, most beautiful screen I have seen on any phone, speaker is much louder, and it's fast.
Negatives= I've had it a week and still haven't got any complaints!

I count myself among the most obsessive of researchers before committing good money. I had a decent Droid Maxx that wasn't more than 6 months old but started to lose signal in my house. Drove me nuts and I don't have a landline. Of course I needed an excuse to get a new phone but that was as good as any. I had decided against the Note 2 in 2012 for cost and size reasons. So like you it was the Note 4 or the Nexus 6 or the Droid Turbo (I'm Verizon). For reasons of screen quality, and removable battery I chose the Note 4. Lo and behold my reception problems have gone away and the rest of the phone is pretty cool. The S-pen has a learning curve. I'm right at the beginning of it but see it helping my productivity. Hope this helps.

I just moved from Windows phone, which I love, to the Note 4 just for the S pen. I work in Sales. I need to be able to take notes. I used to have several notepads lying around with notes from meetings. No rhyme or reason to the notepads. Now, between the MS Surface 3 and the Note 4, I am totally paperless. With the Surface 3, I can take notes in meetings using the stylus. With the Note 4, I can take notes at lunch meetings where the Surface is to large to take out. And, since Android has OneNote, all my notes sync between phone, Surface 3, and home Windows computer. Nirvana!!

So for me, the S pen isn't a gimmick. It's a tool I use every day.

I must share that I use the exact same two devices...the Surface Pro 3 and the Note 4. With the pens on both devices...I am now paperless. Personally...once I started using a pen and touch screen combo...I didn't enjoy any phone without.

Buyer BEWARE of buying Samsung Phones. They WILL NOT replace your phone even if it is 1 month old and defective. IT IS IN THERE TOS! See their direct quote. I will post this every day:

During the applicable warranty period, provided the Product is returned in accordance with the terms of this Limited Warranty, SAMSUNG will repair the Product and we do not have an option to replace a new device.

We realize that you have asked about a replacement handset of a comparable model. All requests of this nature must be addressed through your service provider. Samsung will bring the device into evaluation and repair the device.

If you have insurance through your service provider please contact them for a possible replacement phone. Also, if you purchased the phone with a credit card most companies offer buyers protection. Contact your Credit Card Company to inquire about this program. Please visit the link below where you can check the warranty information of your phone:

I just moved from Windows phone, which I love, to the Note 4 just for the S pen. I work in Sales. I need to be able to take notes. I used to have several notepads lying around with notes from meetings. No rhyme or reason to the notepads. Now, between the MS Surface 3 and the Note 4, I am totally paperless. With the Surface 3, I can take notes in meetings using the stylus. With the Note 4, I can take notes at lunch meetings where the Surface is to large to take out. And, since Android has OneNote, all my notes sync between phone, Surface 3, and home Windows computer. Nirvana!!

I've had my N4 for 3 weeks now coming from iOS since the iPhone 2G and love it. Will be a little learning curve from iOS to Android but it's a quick pick up. Love everything about it, just wish the camera was better with moving objects. Otherwise, love it.

The real downside I've experienced is the lag when loading the gallery, which is painfully annoying. Aside from that, this phone has been flawless. I do use Nova Launcher Prime because I love the functionality, and I'M not too fond of touchwiz.

Let me hear the negatives before I pull the trigger and get one. Been debating about sticking with iOS, which I'm bored with again, getting a Nexus 6 or a Moto X. I thought the S pen looked very cool when I saw it today. Is it a gimmick? Are people really using it?

Nexus 6 looks good, but no one handed mode and no S pen.

Moto X has a crappy camera, only 32gig memory and Moto's own voice system acting as a go between Google Now, which slows it down.

I'm still concerned about about leaving iOS and an integrated MMS/Direct Message app. I think imessage is really good for what it does and I don't see Android really having an equivalent yet.

Yeah iOS is boring but if you are comfortable just stick with it.
Hangouts will @ some day come close to iMessage but it's still in infancy right now.

I have a Note 4...But I really discourage you from switching over cuz it's a learning curve, u will encounter random bugs, then u will come here and bash up Android OS.

So if you with iOS stay on it...As for buying it and giving it a try idea, some places charge you a "re-stocking" fee, so be careful about that!

I come from both iPhones and Androids....I swap about every two years. This time I went from the Galaxy S5 to the Note 4 and it is by far my favorite phone...so glad I didn't go for the now generic iPhone that fails to do anything but change its external appearance when it comes down to it. I love the customization available on the Note 4 and yes, I use the S-Pen EVERY DAY. It's why I bought the Note. I will be sad if Samsung truly stops releasing high-end phones like they are rumored to do - I will have the Note 4 until it dies if that is the case, but will never go back to iPhone after this experience with Android.

and it never will, unless Google and all the android phone makers want to go to war with Apple (which isn't going to happen).

The industry is (and always has been) SMS/MMS. iMessage is something Apple invented to be incompatible with the industry (that was one of Steve Jobs' favorite pastimes), and it's not going to be seen on non-Apple phones.

As for the S-Pen, I use mine all the time (I have one in the phone and a spare on my desk so I don't have to keep pulling it out and putting it back). My wife, who suffered a minor stroke about a year ago, couldn't do half the things she does on her phone without it. The screen size and the S-Pen (and the replaceable battery) are the reasons I bought a Note.

I'm sorry to hear about your wife's stroke! Glad the technology has made things a bit easier for her!

You can find the thing people don't like on many threads, like the lag etc. However there is no substitute to trying out for yourself and seeing how it fits your needs. As a new user who is still learning many things, I just want to say it is better to focus on the positives and see if they apply to you.

Wife and I have been using iPhones since '08. We currently have (or had) the 4S model. Both of us were getting bored with iOS, the past few updates have pissed her off with functionality, etc. She had just reached a point where she was "done with Apple". She wanted a new phone, I wanted a bigger screen than my iPhone 4S.

I should point out I purchased a pair of Sero7 Pro tablets for us last year. I like (and use) mine, but she was ready to throw hers out the window after a week. HATED it. Being used to iOS, Jellybean was too much of a learning curve (relative to her commitment to the swap), and she just quit using the tablet. I ended up giving it to my day. All that to say...she LOVES her S5. Even she will admit, she likes it "probably just because it's different", in addition to the screen size, etc.

I went with the Note4. We've had both phones just over a week (still in the 14 day return period). Having tinkered with the Jellybean tablet over the last year, I'm somewhat familiar with Android. Still, I find the experience on the Note to be "clunky", compared to the iPhones. It also felt like it's "slower" than the iPhone, with delays on screen rotate, opening/closing apps, etc. Is it REALLY clunky, or am I just "trained" to iOS? Valid question...but tasks that take me a single tap on the iPhone are taking several taps on the Note. I've started to change some of the apps around (hate the stock mail app, installed BlueMail, which I like better. Handcent for texts, running Nova, etc.

I have the ATT version, which means mine is bootlocked (I rooted the Sero7, but never really did anything with it). I've been debating whether I should return the ATT phone and pick up a TMobile version, but I think I'm just going to stick with the (overpriced, locked) ATT version. I never really exploited the jailbroken iPhones or rooted tablet (aside from customization/appearance aspects), so I don't think I'm missing much.

I had considered a Nexus, for the "pure" Android experience (as opposed to bloatware, manufacturer specific UI's, etc), but the lack of SD card slot was a deal killer. I'm tire of buying into / being locked into memory capacity (iPhone), so the idea of expandable (and swappable) memory appeals to me. I had no idea about the S-pen, and I'm still not real sure what it does/what benefits it offers. Reading here about the 'make the phone into a notepad' aspect, I think I'll have to check that out.

Back to the point of the thread, the "negatives" I've found are 1) clunky OS (which is likely just a learning curve issue), and 2) size. I REALLY like the size of the wife's Galaxy S5 better, but I like the screen size (and 'more capable device') aspect of the Note. I contemplated returning the Note for an S5, until reading several "Note 4 vs S5" comparisons.

Pros- I love the s-pen, the thinness of the the phone, and screen resolution
Cons- I really think this is the worse phone I have had in years as far as performance. It lags and very often the touch screen responds inaccurately. I am on my second one, as the first one had a defect and would not send clear pictures, every picture that was compressed became extremely blurry. I am on the Verizon network and have never experienced drop calls and slow internet until this phone, now both are daily. I have been working with their customer service for weeks now. I have so many registered dropped calls Verizon offered to waive the early termination fee so I can switch carriers......I could go on and on about this device.

I'm not looking to get blasted by everyone that loves the Note 4, just providing my personal experiences.